Lost in the Weave: Adventures in Finding Basketry Resources

Hey, fellow SCAdians and avid crafters!

Since I started learning about basket weaving last November I found out that as a craft it is very different than my calligraphy and illumination passion. I have to search more to find what I want or need, at least around Omaha, NE. There are no sections in large craft stores devoted to basket weaving. Many items may be there, but they are distributed through other departments. And some other items you want may be found in big-box home improvement stores.

The same is true when searching for books, blogs, or YouTube videos. On Amazon the books may be there, but they are meshed in amongst fabric weaving books. I realize some of that is done to entice you to buy a novel along with the how-to books you hoped for. While the basketry books are available through Amazon, it helps if you know about them first from some other source such as a friend, a basketry coach, or a FaceBook group post.

On YouTube, you can find some good basket instruction videos within general crafters’ channels. If you find a video you really like and look for more some don’t even have them grouped into a basketry playlist they are lumped in along with all the other cool stuff the person does, so you have to create your own to watch later.

That’s sort of the same with blogs. Except for Matt Toomey’s blog, the ones I found are about home decor, or guild conference schedules, or are defunct.

None of the above examples were like that when I did calligraphy and illumination.

Hey there, fellow artisans and craft enthusiasts!to

Let’s talk about basket weaving, shall we? It’s a craft that I began exploring last November. As I’ve been deeply passionate about calligraphy and illumination, I was intrigued to dive into something entirely different. Little did I know, the world of basket weaving operates on its own unique wavelength, especially here in Omaha, NE.

You see, unlike my usual haunts in large craft stores where I can easily navigate to the calligraphy and illumination section, basket weaving doesn’t quite have that luxury. There’s no dedicated aisle or corner for basketry essentials. Instead, you might find them sprinkled throughout the store, often lurking in unexpected places. It’s a treasure hunt every time I want supplies!

And there are zero books in my local bookstores, and a limited few in my library. Even online, the hunt continues. You may find books on basket-making businesses like The Country Seat. Amazon, my go-to for all things in book-buying, tends to mix basket-weaving books with fabric-weaving titles. It’s like they’re playing a game of hide and seek with the information I’m after!

And don’t get me started on YouTube. Sure, there are some fantastic instructional videos out there, but most are buried within broader crafting channels. It’s a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack, or should I say, a reed in a basket?

As for blogs, well, let’s just say they’re a mixed bag. Aside from stumbling upon Matt Toomey’s insightful posts and Basket Weaving.com’s blog, most of what I found revolved around home decor, outdated conference schedules, or businesses. Not at all what I wanted (or maybe I’m just picky).

Comparing this to my experience with calligraphy and illumination, where resources were abundant, and neatly categorized. Plus the SCA provided information everywhere I turned. The difference is like night and day. But you know what? Despite the challenges, there’s something oddly thrilling about the scavenger hunt aspect of basket weaving. It adds an extra layer of excitement to the creative process, wouldn’t you agree?

So, to all my fellow SCAdians and crafting aficionados, let’s embrace the hunt, relish in the unexpected discoveries, and keep weaving those beautiful baskets, one reed at a time! Who knows what hidden treasures we’ll find along the way?